WALES SQUAD NEWS:WARREN GATLAND says this season's English Premiership is "the weakest I have ever known" and is the reason why he called up only Sale's Dwayne Peel from across the border for Wales's autumn Tests.

The coach, in charge of Wasps for four seasons until 2005, was not deterred by Premier Rugby’s ban on exiles playing in the November 7th Test against New Zealand, which falls outside the official window, but feels the quality of the teams playing in England this season has slipped.

“Just look at Gloucester: when I took teams to Kingsholm, you knew you were in for a really tough encounter but I watched them against Wasps at the weekend and they were not competitive . Just because a player is appearing in the Premiership does not guarantee he will make it with Wales. When the tournament was strong, it was a good gauge of whether a player would be able to make the step up but that is not the case now.”

Gatland said Peel might have joined fellow exiles such as Gareth Delve, Nicky Robinson, Ceri Jones and Roberts out in the cold but for an injury to Mike Phillips.

“There is a good possibility Dwayne would have been left out if Mike had been fit,” said Gatland. “Dwayne is not available for 25 per cent of our matches next month because Premier Rugby will not release players . . . I told Dwayne before he signed for Sale he should insist on a release clause in his contract, as Jonny Wilkinson has done with Toulon, guaranteeing his release for all training days and matches, but it did not happen. The message is clear for all players in Wales who may think about moving away. We are looking to play an extra international against South Africa next June but Premier Rugby has again said it will not release players.”

Gatland said speculation Ryan Jones faced losing the captaincy after being left out of the Lions squad was a media invention.

Ospreys back row Jonathan Thomas could miss the November Tests after a citing complaint for punching.

Thomas allegedly committed foul play after coming on as a replacement in his side’s 20-12 defeat to Cardiff Blues on Saturday. The Welsh Rugby Union said it would hold a disciplinary hearing into the incident “at the nearest convenience”.

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